The Veldt
“The Veldt” Questions
Setting
1. The setting of “The Veldt” is decisive for the story to progress. The story takes place in a futuristic age in which machines have taken over jobs originally done by humans. This meant the children (Wendy and Peter) felt distanced from their parents because machines helped them develop instead of their parents. It led them to believe that the machines were the ones that cared for them, and the machines were the things that they cannot live without. “I wish you were dead,” was the acid statement that poured out of the mouth of Peter when his dad had the sense to turn the house off. When finally asked to choose they tossed their parents aside. The location of the story is also relevant to the story. The family lived in a house that satisfied their every need which made the parents seem unneeded. Also, there was a room called the “nursery” that could replicate any place the mind wanted, real or imaginary. This left even less room for the parents to help their own children. The setting is the reason the children decided to kill their parents with no thought of the consequences.
Character Sketch of Children
2. The children think, act, and disobey together. They do everything as a group so their characteristics are very similar. Both are spoiled, disobedient, and impulsive. They are so used to having whatever they want that when their parents threatened to turn off the machines, they killed them. They shift their loyalties to whoever gives them what they want and possesses no thoughts for other’s feelings. They are extremely disobedient and listens to no one. Even when George pleaded that they, “Open the door!” they stubbornly allow the lions to do their jobs. They are impulsive and acts on the moment with no long-term planning. They never thought about whether the machines would break someday or whether Mr. McClean would turn it off. This would leave them with no ways to feed themselves. They never thought about how maybe someday
Setting
1. The setting of “The Veldt” is decisive for the story to progress. The story takes place in a futuristic age in which machines have taken over jobs originally done by humans. This meant the children (Wendy and Peter) felt distanced from their parents because machines helped them develop instead of their parents. It led them to believe that the machines were the ones that cared for them, and the machines were the things that they cannot live without. “I wish you were dead,” was the acid statement that poured out of the mouth of Peter when his dad had the sense to turn the house off. When finally asked to choose they tossed their parents aside. The location of the story is also relevant to the story. The family lived in a house that satisfied their every need which made the parents seem unneeded. Also, there was a room called the “nursery” that could replicate any place the mind wanted, real or imaginary. This left even less room for the parents to help their own children. The setting is the reason the children decided to kill their parents with no thought of the consequences.
Character Sketch of Children
2. The children think, act, and disobey together. They do everything as a group so their characteristics are very similar. Both are spoiled, disobedient, and impulsive. They are so used to having whatever they want that when their parents threatened to turn off the machines, they killed them. They shift their loyalties to whoever gives them what they want and possesses no thoughts for other’s feelings. They are extremely disobedient and listens to no one. Even when George pleaded that they, “Open the door!” they stubbornly allow the lions to do their jobs. They are impulsive and acts on the moment with no long-term planning. They never thought about whether the machines would break someday or whether Mr. McClean would turn it off. This would leave them with no ways to feed themselves. They never thought about how maybe someday